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Eschatology and world affairs

5/10/2020

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Eschatology and World Affairs
 
‘Eschatology’ (intended or hoped for end times) sounds a rather esoteric interest of religious elite, easily deleted from relevance by most of humanity – that is unless or until it intrudes dangerously into world affairs.  A respected Australian diplomat reflected with me this week that Israel/Palestine has entered a post Oslo period dominated by religious eschatology.
 
What did he mean?
 
In 1993 and 1995 a way forward to peace and autonomy for Palestinians and Israelis was forged between Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat known as the Oslo accords. From it a road map was developed which planned a two-state solution based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem serving as the Palestinian capital. Piece by piece this hoped for outcome, initially imagined within five years, has been demolished, leaving little realistic hope of its fulfilment.
 
Religious eschatology has significantly contributed to this disastrous outcome, filling the void with suspicion at best, and hatred at worst.
 
Christian: I find it intensely embarrassing and very upsetting to speak of Christian eschatology that is profoundly reshaping Palestinian life under suppression and occupation.  Surely it is none of our business?  Right, it is not. But the simple truth is that Israel could not so boldly colonise the Palestinians territories were it not for support from the United States of America.  Further, US support for Israel has little to do with Israel and everything to do with domestic US politics. The evangelical right believes the rise of ‘Greater Israel’, sovereignty over all the lands assumed to have been encompassed by the ancient kingdoms of Judea and Israel (Samaria) BC, will hasten the second coming of Christ.  It is Trump’s reliance on the US evangelical right at the ballot box that drives him to be “Israel’s best friend” and supporter of all that Israel does to make a viable autonomous Palestinian State impossible to achieve.  While it suits Trump politically to espouse Christian affiliation, it is clear that he has not embraced Christian ethics or morality, rather, in the mould of Emperors before him, he sees himself as a demi-god, beyond contradiction, endowed with divine authority – not least in this matter.
 
It is a matter of intense shame that this version of Christianity has tentacles in Australian life, including Australian political life and that gross human rights violations against Palestinians are tolerated or condoned in the pursuit of a sought after and desired end game that is believed to have divine sanction.
 
Jewish: It is undeniably the fact that the settler movement comprises immigrants from Europe and the US who have messianic designs that support and mirror misplaced Christian messianic hope.  Palestinians are increasingly harassed and abused by settlers who tell them they (the Palestinians) are settlers on their property, that it is Jewish property.   In other words, the settler movement claims the Palestinians who have lived there for generations are the illegitimate ones, not newcomers who have been given a privileged economic advantage to settle from another part of the world.
 
These extremist views now have an almost vetoing capacity in the Knesset.
 
Muslim:  The Palestine/Israel impasse is not about religion but ethnicity, but religion is developing ominous significance. When I visited Ramallah for the first-time 20+ years ago the city was not as distinctively Muslim as it has now become.  Of course, all Palestinians are not Muslim, there are clearly many Arabs with no religious identity, like citizens of every country throughout the world.  It used to be the case that the Christian Arab population of Palestine exceeded 20 percent. Now it is barely measurable.  In a visit to Palestine/Israel last year I met with two Anglican Palestinian priests who told me that being an Arab Christian is now infinitely harder because of pressure, even intimidation, from some sectors of the Arab Muslim community.  One of the priests told me that he has reluctantly concluded the best thing for his congregation is for them to migrate.
 
While in no way excusing intolerance towards minority religious affiliation, I do in part understand the reason for the rising importance of Islamic identity amongst Palestinians. When you are oppressed, when human rights are denied, when identity is threatened, promoting identity which sets you apart from the oppressor becomes even more important.  Palestinians are not fools, they know the oppression they endure is supported, even encouraged, by Christian fundamentalism.
 
And so, I find myself in reluctant agreement with my friend the Australian diplomat who claims the present situation in Palestine/Israel is being influenced by, if not driven by, religious eschatology.  The ramping up of one brand ignites the ramping up of the other.
 
All of this must be exasperating to moderate Jews, Muslims and Christians who see the faith that is dear to them being captured for illegitimate and dangerous reasons.
 
It is especially exasperating to me because of the eschatology laid out in the last book of the bible the Revelation of St John the Divine. As the Bible begins with creation, it ends with creation.  As it begins with the Tree of Life, so it ends.  In this eschatology the whole created order is to be redeemed.  We all belong together.  There is no existence outside common existence. There is no life outside shared difference.
 
It used to be that Muslim, Christian and Jewish children played together in the villages and streets of Palestine.  It used to be the case that adults tended the graves of one another’s ancestors.
 
It could be the case again.  There is no other future. Many think we live in a much-improved world. Have another look.  There is more division and polarisation than there used be.  This division and polarisation is supported, promoted, by people in authority.  Yes, in some respects the world of today is better than the world of yesterday, but in the all-important matter of harmony, justice, respect and goodwill, truth appears to have slipped from sight.
 
There is no future for Palestine or Israel in identities of exclusion. There should be no tolerance either for Christianity, Judaism or Islam if the contribution they make to world affairs is a subterfuge, smoke and mirrors,  and conspiracy theory, particularly when they have in their possession an eschatological  narrative that expects nothing less than the embracing of the whole created order, where difference  is gift beyond measure within the embrace of the Tree of Life.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2 Comments
Sister Laurel Clare Lloyd-Jones lfsf
5/10/2020 06:24:08 pm

Dear Bishop George,
Such an important article and so needed to promote understanding of what is unfolding on the world stage. Thank you - I have shared this widely as it is such a clear statement of all that has concerned my heart over many years.

I remember the day at Elm Grove Sanctuary (many years ago) when a fundamental Christian roundly challenged me over my concern and care for the environment and our focus of respect and welcome to those of other faiths, saying that I was hampering God's Plan for the 'second coming'.

Such narrow understanding of what Jesus came to proclaim and of the Christ Consciousness that is still being manipulated by evil intent by our political leaders. Blessings, Laurel

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Graham Warren
6/10/2020 12:47:49 pm

It has taken me many years for the truth of this account you render to sink in and be believable to me. I first heard it spoken of by Greg Jenks in a lecture in or about 1990 and at that time I still retained some view of Israel that came out of a simplistic reading of Leon Uris (Exodus) and other writers who gave us an exciting picture of what future the Jews might carve out for themselves in a new land. All of this was read through the eyes of the relatively recent holocaust and so there was widespread sympathy for the Jews peoples. I never occurred to me then that they would one day become the tyrannical oppressor and the perpetrator of genocide in a way not too dissimilar to what had recently happened to them. I also had no idea at that time that Christian heresies such as dispensationalism or anti or post millennialism we're part of the spectrum of Christian beliefs. Having been to Israel thrice now I see things very differently. Those visits radicalised me in a way only possible by seeing is believing. Thank you for such a forthright and bold telling of the truth on the ground. I too share your embarrassment and anger at what has been done in the name of our faith. Shalom, Graham

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    ​Author

    ​Bishop George Browning. 
    ​Retired Anglican Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn.

    ​Inaugural chair Anglican Communion Environment Network

    ​PhD Thesis: Sabbath and the Common Good: An Anglican response to the Environmental Crisis.

    ​President: Australia Palestine Advocacy Network

    ​Chair: Christians for an Ethical Society..

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